Garment finisher

ABSTRACT

A garment finisher provided with structure in the steam vessel for heating the conditioning fluid to dry the fluid. A transversely C-shaped baffle in an annular chamber permits selective varying of the path of flow of the fluid over a heated wall to thereby control the temperature of the conditioning fluid. A bayonet clamp mount permits ready removal of the clamp and a manually operated spring assembly including a cam closes or opens the clamp for installation or removal of a garment.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Lloyd W. Killey ".R. #2, Monmouth. 111. 61462 [21] Appl. No. 804,767 [22] Filed Mar. 6, 1969 [45] Patented Sept. 7, 1971 [54] GARMENT FINISHER 4 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

[52] 0.8. CI 223/70 [51] D061 73/00 [50] FieldofSearch 223/51,67,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,140.96] 12/1938 Lendle 223/70 2,417,838 3/1947 Paris 223/70 X 2,715,985 8/1955 Holliman et al. 223/73 2,915,229 12/1959 Paris 223/70 2,966,287 12/1960 Paris 223/51 2,986,312 5/1961 Petzold et al 223/70 2,998,171 8/1961 Jackson 223/67 Primary Examiner-Jordan Franklin Assistant Examiner-Geo. V. Larkin Attorney-Don M. Bradley ABSTRACT: A garment finisher provided with structure in the steam vessel for heating the conditioning fluid to dry the fluid A transversely C-shaped baffle in an annular chamber permits selective varying of the path of flow of the fluid over a heated wall to thereby control the temperature of the conditioning fluid. A bayonet clamp mount permits ready removal of the clamp and a manually operated spring assembly including a cam closes or opens the clamp for installation or removal of a garment.

PATENTED SEP 7 1971 [fill/III!!! l ocu INVENTOR LLOYD W. KiLlLEY ATTORNEY GARMENT lElNllSlHlEll This invention relates to cleaning and pressing equipment, and more particularly, to a machine for finishing the conditioning of a garment.

it is conventional for garment finishing machines to be provided with manifolds extending into a garment-supporting frame for the purpose of distributing a conditioning fluid such as steam to the garment. Usually, live steam is supplied to a steam vessel located in the base of the machine. The vessel is provided with a return steam line so that a supply of very hot steam is maintained in the vessel at all times. Heating coils for heating air currents used in the finishing operation may emanate from the live steam vessel.

A steam distributing manifold projects into the garmentsupporting framework and communicates with a source of conditioning fluid such as steam. Often this conditioning fluid is also steam drawn from the vessel and conducted past a control valve and into the manifold.

The flow of the fluid through its conduit and the pressure drop across the valve results in the condensing of some moisture in the fluid. it is desirable, however, in the proper finishing of garments, to maintain the moisture content of the conditioning fluid below a predetermined relatively low value. Attempts have been made to heat the fluid by constructing the inlet for the fluid to the manifold in heat exchange relationship to the live steam in the vessel. This has failed to insure dry steam in the manifold, however, because the conditioning fluid has not become sufficiently heated as it flowed through the manifold inlet.

Accordingly, it is a very important object of this invention to provide improved structure for heating the conditioning fluid so that relatively dry fluid is provided to the garment.

In achieving the foregoing object, it is another object of this invention.to provide baffle structure for controlling the path of flow of conditioning fluid across a heated surface on its way to the discharge manifold.

Still another object of the invention is to provide baffle structure which may be easily adjusted to vary the path of fluid flow and to thereby vary the moisture content of the conditioning fluid.

Further objects of this invention are to provide novel, easily removable garment clamp assemblies having cam and roller locking units.

These and other objects of the present invention will be further explained or will become apparent from the specification, claims and drawing.

in the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a garment finisher embodying the principles of this invention, parts being broken away and shown in the cross section to reveal details of con struction;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, vertical, cross-sectional view through the steam vessel;

FlG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 2;

FlG. t is a fragmentary, exploded, perspective view of the bayonet mount for one of the clamp assemblies;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, side elevational view of the locking unit for a clamp assembly, parts being broken away to reveal details of construction; and

H6. 6 is a fragmentary, front elevational view of the assembly of FIG. 5.

Referring initially to H6. ll of the drawing, a garment finisher embodying the principles of this invention is broadly designated it) and includes a base 12, a fan unit M, and an upright garment frame to. Base 12 is generally hollow and a vessel i8 adapted to receive live steam is housed within the central portion of base 112. Thus, vessel 18 is provided with a steam inlet 20 adapted to be coupled with a suitable source of live steam such as a boiler. A return line 22 is also coupled with the steam source to remove any condensate and to insure that the steam within vessel lid is very hot and dry at all times.

if desired, a vertically extending baffle 24 may be welded to the lower surface of top 26 of vessel llti in offset disposition with respect to the proximal end of inlet 20. This insures that the incoming steam is diffused throughout the entire cavity presented by vessel 15? so that the heat of the steam in the vessel is uniform.

An upright steam outlet manifold 28 projects upwardly from top 26 of vessel 18 and is disposed centrally within the generally upright frame members Ill) comprising the skeleton framework for the garment-receiving frame 116. The upper end of manifold 23 rotatably carries the weight of the frame 16 on a vertically extending, central member 32 which slidably engages the uppermost end of manifold 28. An annular frame member 34 adjacent the bottom of frame 16 has an outwardly extending flange 36 which circumscribes an opening 38 in the top of base 12 surrounding manifold Ell.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, manifold 23 is comprises of an upwardly extending pipe 40 having its lowermost threaded end received through an aperture in top 26 of vessel 18. The threaded end of pipe &0 is then received in a tubular pipe tee 42 comprising inlet structure for manifold 2%. A reducer 44 is threadably received in the lowermost end of tee 42, and an upwardly extending tube 36 has its lowermost end threadably received in the small opening of reducer 44 as illustrated in FIG. 2. The uppermost end (not shown) of tube 56 is conventionally closed and the latter comprises a heater for manifold 28 in that tube 46 is open to the dry steam in vessel 18 so that the heated steam may move up through tube 46 to maintain the manifold in a heated condition.

The space between tube 46 and tee 4l2 defines an annular chamber 48 having its upper end partially closed by the sidewall of pipe 430 and having its lowermost end closed by the juncture of reducer 44 with tube 46. The lateral projecting portion 50 of tee 4 2 threadably receives a conditioning fluid inlet pipe 52 for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

A transversely C-shaped, elongated, generally tubular deflector 54 is received in chamber 418 and is disposed around tube 46 as shown in FIG. 3. Deflector member 54 is provided with a longitudinal slot 56 extending its entire length. It will be seen, particularly in FIG. 2, that deflector member 54 is of sufficient length that its uppermost shoulder cooperates with the proximal lowermost shoulder of pipe 40 to effectively close chamber 48 at its uppermost end except, of course, at the interruption of the sidewall of member 54 at the location of slot 56.

The conditioning fluid for garments on frame 16 is ordinarily steam and, as mentioned above, it is desirable that the steam be relatively free of condensate when it is applied to the garment. The conditioning steam may be drawn directly from the vessel 18 and, to this end, a line 58 communicates with vessel lti. Line 58 communicates with a control valve (not shown) which is, in turn, in fluid communication with pipe 52. Accordingly, when it is desired to introduce conditioning steam as a step in the finishing of a garment mounted on frame to, the operation of the control valve permits circulation of steam from vessel 18 through line 5%, pipe 52, and into the inlet structure for subsequent delivery to the manifold 23. The holes 60 in manifold 255 permit the conditioning steam to leave the manifold for movement into and through the garment.

The drawing of steam from vessel 18 and the passage of this steam through the control valve inevitably results in condensation of a portion of the steam. Since the presence of condensate in the steam admitted manifold 28 is undesirable, the inlet structure for manifold 28 serves to reheat the steam to insure that it is free of condensate as it travels through the manifold and into the garment. To this end, the outermost sidewall of tee i2 is in thermal exchange relationship with the live steam in vessel 18. Accordingly, the sidewall of tee 42 is kept hot at all times. When the conditioning steam enters chamber 4% through pipe 52., it is deflected by member 5&- around the heated wall of tee 42 where the conditioning fluid is reheated to eliminate its condensate. The conditioning fluid must travel on a path around tee 42 until it reaches the vertically extending slot 56 where it may emanate in manifold 23.

Deflector member 54 is slidably disposed around the inner tube 46 so that the relative proximity of slot 56 to the inlet portion 50 of tee 42 may be varied. Manifestly, the amount of heating of the conditioning fluid depends upon the surface of the heated wall of tee 42 which is traversed by the conditioning fluid before escape into the manifold 28. By varying the proximity of slot 56 to the conditioning fluid inlet, the operator may adjust the level of temperature and, therefore, the relative dryness of the conditioning fluid as may be required.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 4, and 6, it may be seen that the frame 16 is provided with a pair of clamp assemblies 62 and 64 for clamping the vents or pleats of garments finished by the finisher 10. Whether or not either or both of the assemblies 62 and 64 are desired depends upon the particular finishing operation and also upon the type of garment disposed upon frame 16. When an assembly is not required, it may be simply and easily removed from the machine by means of the novel mounting structure illustrated particularly in FIG. 4. Accordingly, each assembly includes a pair of outwardly extending projections 66 integral with frame member 34 and having an upwardly and outwardly extending channel member 68 rigidly secured between the projections 66 as by welding or the like. Except for the size of the clamp, assemblies 62 and 64 are identical. Accordingly, it will only be necessary to explain one of the assemblies in detail.

Assembly 62 includes an elongated, rigid element 70 integral with a socket 72 adapted to be complementally received over channel member 68 in telescoped relationship thereto. When it is desirable to remove the clamp assembly from the machine, the operator merely lifts the assembly upwardly and outwardly so that the socket 72 slides off the channel member 68. The clamp assembly may be reinstalled by placing the socket over its respective channel member whereupon gravity holds the clamp assembly securely in place during operation of the machine. Manifestly, the channel members 68 and sockets 72 are transversely polygonal to eliminate any relative axial rotation between each socket and its respective member. This insures that the clamp is in proper position at all times.

In addition to the rigid member 70, each clamp assembly includes an arm 74 having a rigid portion 76 pivotally coupled at one end to member 70 intermediate its ends, and an integral spring element 78 having one end received in a transversely U- shaped bracket 70 carried by portion 76. The other end of element 78 is pivotally coupled to its respective clamp 82. A generally T-shaped crank 84 has one leg 86 thereof pivotally coupled to the uppermost end of element 70. A leg 88 projecting at right angles to leg 86 has a roller 90 at its outermost end which cooperates with a cam surface 92 of a cam member 94 welded to the uppermost end of portion 76. A handle 96 is rigidly secured to crank 84 to permit manual swinging of crank 94 about its axis of pivoting on element 70.

Accordingly, when the operator desires to block the clamp as illustrated with respect to assembly 72 in FIG. 1, he merely pushes handle 96 toward frame 16. Crank 94 swings in a direction for roller 90 to follow cam surface 92 to urge the clamp toward frame 16. Continued rotation of handle 96 bends spring element 78 until the roller 90 is received in a notch 98. The components of the clamp assemblies are locked in this position until the operator swings handle 96 in the opposite direction. This withdraws roller from notch 98 to permit outward swinging of the clamp as illustrated with as' sembly 64 in FIG. 1.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a garment finisher having a vessel adapted to be coupled with a source of live steam, a fluid discharge manifold, and conduit means adapted to be coupled with a source of conditioning fluid, an inlet for said manifold comprising:

structure extending into the vessel and communicating with the manifold and the conduit means respectively, said structure having at least one wall in heat exchange relationship to the steam in said vessel; and

deflector means in the structure and disposed to control the path of flow of conditioning fluid therethrough whereby the heat of said fluid may be controlled by the extent of said path over said wall, said structure including a pair of transversely circular, concentric tubes of different diameters presenting an annular chamber between the inner and outer tubes, and said deflector means including an elongated, tubular member extending around said chamber, said member having an elongated slot extending the length thereof to defined a longitudinal path of travel of fluid through the chamber, said outer tube having an inlet opening for said fluid, the member being rotatable in the chamber for selectively varying the proximity of said longitudinal fluid path to said inlet opening.

2. The invention of claim 1, wherein said inner and outer tubes are connected at one end of said structure to close one end of the chamber, said tubes converging adjacent the other end of said chamber whereby said member substantially closes said other end with the slot defining the primary opening for travel of fluid from the chamber and into the manifold.

3. In a garment finisher provided with a frame adapted to support a garment and a clamp assembly cooperable with the frame for holding the garment in position, means for removably mounting the clamp assembly to the frame com prising:

a socket carried by the clamp assembly; and

a transversely polygonal projection rigidly mounted on said frame and extending upwardly therefrom, said projection being shaped to slidably and complementally receive said socket in telescoped relationship thereon to prevent relative rotation between the assembly and the projection, whereby the force of gravity holds the clamp assembly mounted on said frame, said clamp assembly including an elongated rigid element integral with said socket, a spring member pivotally coupled to said element for swinging toward and away from the frame, a clamp carried by the outermost end of the element, cam means carried by the member, and crank means pivotally coupled to the element and engageable with the cam means for yieldably biasing the element and said clamp toward the frame.

4. The invention of claim 3, wherein said cam means includes locking means for releasably holding the clamp in said position biased toward the frame. 

1. In a garment finisher having a vessel adapted to be coupled with a source of live steam, a fluid discharge manifold, and conduit means adapted to be coupled with a source of conditioning fluid, an inlet for said manifold comprising: structure extending into the vessel and communicating with the manifold and the conduit means respectively, said structure having at least one wall in heat exchange relationship to the steam in said vessel; and deflector means in the structure and disposed to control the path of flow of conditioning fluid therethrough whereby the heat of said fluid may be controlled by the extent of said path over said wall, said structure including a pair of transversely circular, concentric tubes of different diameters presenting an annular chamber between the inner and outer tubes, and said deflector means including an elongated, tubular member extending around said chamber, said member having an elongated slot extending the length thereof to defined a longitudinal path of travel of fluid through the chamber, said outer tube having an inlet opening for said fluid, the member being rotatable in the chamber for selectively varying the proximity of said longitudinal fluid path to said inlet opening.
 2. The invention of claim 1, wherein said inner and outer tubes are connected at one end of said structure to close one end of the chamber, said tubes converging adjacent the other end of said chamber whereby said member substantially closes said other end with the slot defining the primary opening for travel of fluid from the chamber and into the manifold.
 3. In a garment finisher provided with a frame adapted to support a garment and a clamp assembly cooperable with the frame for holding the garment in position, means for removably mounting the clamp assembly to the frame comprising: a socket carried by the clamp assembly; and a transversely polygonal projection rigidly mounted on said frame and extending upwardly therefrom, said projection being shaped to slidably and complementally receive said socket in telescoped relationship thereon to prevent relative rotation between the assembly and the projection, whereby the force of gravity holds the clamp assembly mounted on said frame, said clamp assembly including an elongated rigid element integral with said socket, a spring member pivotally coupled to said element for swinging toward and away from the frame, a clamp carried by the outermost end of the element, cam means carried by the member, and crank means pivotally coupled to the element and engageable with the cam means for yieldably biasing the element and said clamp toward the frame.
 4. The invention of claim 3, wherein said cam means includes locking means for releasably holding the clamp in said position biased toward the frame. 